Hydraulically assisted deployed ESP system

Abstract

A system and method for providing artificial lift to production fluids within a subterranean well includes loading an electrical submersible pump assembly into an interior cavity of a pump launcher. The electrical submersible pump assembly has a motor and a pump and is releasably secured to a piston device. The piston device has an outer diameter profile. The pump launcher is releasably secured to a wellhead so that the interior cavity is in fluid communication with an inner bore of a production tubing that extends a length into the subterranean well. A propulsion system is activated to move the electrical submersible pump assembly from the pump launcher and into the subterranean well. The piston device can be communicated with to control the descent of the electrical submersible pump assembly through the subterranean well.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing artificial lift to production fluids within a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 loading an electrical submersible pump assembly into an interior cavity of a pump launcher, the electrical submersible pump assembly having a motor, and a pump and being releasably secured to a piston device, the piston device having an outer diameter profile; 
 releasably securing the pump launcher to a wellhead so that the interior cavity is in fluid communication with an inner bore of a production tubing that extends a length into the subterranean well; 
 activating a propulsion system to move the electrical submersible pump assembly from the pump launcher and into the subterranean well, wherein the propulsion system includes a reversible surface valve system and a surface pump in fluid communication with the reversible surface valve system; and 
 communicating with the piston device to control a descent of the electrical submersible pump assembly through the subterranean well. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising moving the electrical submersible pump assembly through the subterranean well with the propulsion system until the electrical submersible pump assembly reaches a set packer, then latching the electrical submersible pump assembly to the set packer. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising unlatching the electrical submersible pump assembly from the set packer and returning the electrical submersible pump assembly to the pump launcher with the propulsion system. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating the propulsion system includes pressurizing a circulating fluid with the surface pump and moving the circulating fluid through the valve system so that the valve system directs the circulating fluid into the production tubing and out of an annular space between an inner diameter of the subterranean well and an outer diameter of production tubing to act on pressure surfaces of the piston device. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of communicating with the piston device to control the descent of the electrical submersible pump assembly through the subterranean well includes changing the outer diameter profile of the piston device to change a vector sum of forces applied on the pressure surfaces of the piston device. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising controlling a speed and direction of movement of the electrical submersible pump assembly through the subterranean well by changing a pressure and direction of flow of the circulating fluid with the surface pump. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a speed of the electrical submersible pump assembly with a guide wire, the guide wire being a non-load bearing cable that extends from the electrical submersible pump assembly to the pump launcher. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising sensing a condition of the subterranean well with the piston device. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein activating the propulsion system includes pressurizing a circulating fluid with the surface pump and moving the circulating fluid through the valve system so that the valve system directs the circulating fluid through a circulation fluid inlet that extends through the production tubing axially below the piston device, the circulation fluid inlet providing fluid communication between the inner bore of the production tubing and an annular space defined between an inner diameter of the subterranean well and an outer diameter of production tubing. 
     
     
       10. A method for providing artificial lift to production fluids within a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 loading an electrical submersible pump assembly into an interior cavity of a pump launcher, the electrical submersible pump assembly having a motor, a pump and being releasably secured to a piston device, the piston device having an outer diameter profile; 
 releasably securing the pump launcher to a wellhead so that the interior cavity is in fluid communication with an inner bore of a production tubing that extends a length into the subterranean well; 
 operating a surface valve system to provide a flow path for a circulating fluid from a surface pump to the inner bore of the production tubing and out of an annular space between an inner diameter of the subterranean well and an outer diameter of production tubing; 
 pressurizing the circulating fluid with the surface pump and moving the circulating fluid through the valve system so that the valve system directs the circulating fluid into the inner bore of the production tubing to act on pressure surfaces of the piston device to move the electrical submersible pump assembly from the pump launcher and into the subterranean well; and 
 communicating with the piston device to change the outer diameter profile of the piston device to control a descent of the electrical submersible pump assembly through the subterranean well. 
 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising operating the valve system to reverse the circulating fluid so that the circulating fluid flows in a return flow path from the surface pump to the subterranean well in the annular space and up the inner bore of the production tubing to move the electrical submersible pump assembly from the production tubing to the pump launcher. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising monitoring a speed of the electrical submersible pump assembly with a guide wire, the guide wire being a non-load bearing cable that extends from the electrical submersible pump assembly to the pump launcher. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 10 , wherein communicating with the piston device includes communicating with the piston device through a guide wire that extends from the electrical submersible pump assembly to the pump launcher. 
     
     
       14. An electric submersible pump system for providing artificial lift to production fluids within a subterranean well, the system comprising:
 a pump launcher releasably secured to a wellhead, the pump launcher having an interior cavity in fluid communication with an inner bore of a production tubing that extends a length into the subterranean well; 
 an electrical submersible pump assembly having a motor and a pump; 
 a piston device releasably secured to the electrical submersible pump assembly, the piston device having a controllable outer diameter profile selectively engaging the inner bore of the subterranean well; and 
 a propulsion system associated with the piston device selectively moving the electrical submersible pump assembly through the production tubing, wherein the propulsion system includes a surface valve system and a surface pump in fluid communication with the surface valve system, the propulsion system operable to pressurize a circulating fluid with the surface pump and move the circulating fluid through the valve system so that the valve system directs the circulating fluid into the production tubing and out of an annular space between an inner diameter of the subterranean well and an outer diameter of production tubing to act on pressure surfaces of the piston device. 
 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the piston device has a top pressure surface acted on by the circulating fluid to move the electrical submersible pump assembly through the production tubing. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the piston device has a bottom pressure surface acted on by the circulating fluid to move the electrical submersible pump assembly out of the subterranean well. 
     
     
       17. The system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a guide wire connected to the piston device and extending out of the subterranean well to a surface location, the guide wire being non-load bearing and being in signal communication with the surface location.